What does it mean
when someone identifies themselves as White? or Black? or Irish? or American?
or Irish American? or Tibetan? or a Man?How do new identities get created and legitimated?What does it mean to try on a different
identity, i.e. to 'pass'?National
groups and ethnic groups are so large that one individual can only possibly
know an infinitesimal fraction of the other members of the group.What then explains the seeming coherence of
the groups?If identities are a product
of the imagination, why are people willing to fight and die for them?

Grading:

1 Class
Presentation20%

3 Short Papers60%

Class Participation20%

Requirements:

This seminar will
require careful reading, consistent class participation, 3 short papers, and
one class presentation (which will be based on that week's reading
assignment).There are no exams.Depending on class size, you may be able to
make a second in-class presentation, and substitute that for the third paper
(so 2 presentations and 2 papers instead of 1 presentation and 3 papers). Every
reading assignment will be accompanied by 2 or more questions to guide your
reading.These questions will be posted
on my website (http://www.stanford.edu/~mrosenfe).These questions should guide your reading,
your writing assignments, and your class presentation.Papers should be short- 2 or 3 pages- and
should answer the questions I pose about the reading.The length restriction on papers is designed
to force your essays to be concise. You may hand in essays in any 3 of the 9
weeks of class.You may hand in written
assignments in more than 3 weeks, and in that case your grade will reflect the
best 3 assignments you turn in.Because
the written assignments are designed to stimulate class discussion, no late
papers will be accepted and no incompletes for the course will be granted.Class presentations will be 10-15 minutes in
length.

Tatum, Beverly. 2003. Why
Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria? A Psychologist
Explains the Development of Racial Identity. New York: Basic Books. ISBN-10:0465083617, $13

Stoler, Ann Laura.1997."Carnal Knowledge and Imperial
Power"Ch
1 in The Gender/ Sexuality Reader, edited by Lancaster and di Leonardo.Routledge.ISBN 0415910056, $44. Plus
further readings from the book TBA.

Other Readings, availableat the Stanford Bookstore, or on
Library Reserve, or linked from Rosenfeld’s website:

·Garfinkel,
Howard.1967."Passing and the Managed Achievement of
Sex Status in an 'Intersexed' Person part 1" p. 166-185 in Studies in
Ethnomethodology.Englewood Cliffs,
NJ:Prentice- Hall (either buy the book or borrow it from the library) ISBN-10:0745600050.
$30

Reading Assignments:

Week 1:

Apr 1

Introduction to
the class

Apr 3

Symbolic
Ethnicity:The Future of Ethnic Groups
and Cultures in America